"...determination is the key to success in politics, in the broadest sense of the word. You don't need many resources to make your voice heard when you are defending a cause you believe to be just..." Padre André Sibomana

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Monday, October 18, 2010

Rwandan Opposition Urges UN on Jailed Leaders

Members of the Rwandan opposition are calling for the UN to intervene in securing the release of opposition leader, Victoire Umuhoza. Below is a report by AFP.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Rwandan opposition parties Monday called on the UN
Security Council to intervene to have Victoire Ingabire, the opposition
figure arrested last week and other "political prisoners" freed.

The
parties -- Ingabire's FDU party, the Democratic Green Party and the PS
Imberakuri -- said they have already called on the Rwandan authorities
to release Ingabire and others but in vain.

"The Rwandan
Opposition is convinced that your urgent intervention will help defuse
the current political crisis in the country and help achieve sustainable
peace in the Great Lakes Region of Africa," the parties said in an open
letter to the Security Council.

Ingabire was arrested last week
in Kigali and faces charges including plotting to set up a "terrorist
group" and threatening national security.

The parties are also
appealing for the release of Bernard Ntaganda, the founder and chairman
of PS Imberakuri, in prison since June, and the head of the People's
Defence Pact, Deo Mushayidi, sentenced to life.

Ntaganda, who was recently hospitalised, is back in Kigali's central prison, police spokesman Eric Kayiranga said Monday.

"We
fear that the present management of the political system has the
potential to lead to another cycle of violence. This must be stopped
immediately; the UN Security council can prevent this," the three
parties said.